A process for the preparation of carbapenem antibiotics, which is free from the two disadvantages: (1) use of column chromatography and (2) recovery of a difficulty soluble salt and by which the objective compounds can be efficiently prepared in a short period. Specifically, a process for the preparation of compounds represented by the general formula (IV), salts thereof, or hydrates of both, characterized by reacting a compound represented by the general formula (I) with a compound represented by the general formula (II): X-H (wherein X is a member selected from the group consisting of substituents represented by the formulae (X-1) to (X-8)) to thereby obtain a compound represented by the general formula (III) or salt thereof, converting the compound (III) or salt thereof into a compound represented by the general formula (IV) or a salt thereof through the removal of the protecting group (R3), and purifying the compound (IV) or salt thereof by crystallization.